AIM: To study the effects of the specific simulated luminous environment on the visual performance of people with different vision, so as to provide an experimental basis for revising pilots' vision standards. METHODS: A controlled randomized trial was conducted. Twenty-four volunteers were recruited and divided into four groups(1.0/1.0, 0.8/0.8, 0.6/0.6 and 0.4/0.4, decimal vision)according to right/left eye visual acuity, with six subjects in each group. Each subject was tested for static distant vision, kinetic visual acuity, color vision, depth perception error and visual search time under the simulated luminous environments of sunlight, twilight, and on-cloud, respectively, to compare changes in the impact of distinctive luminous surroundings on the visual performance indicators of human beings with different vision.RESULTS: There were main effect differences in static distant vision, kinetic visual acuity, color error, depth perception error and visual search time under different light environments(all P<0.01). The binocular static distant visual acuity, abilities of color discrimination, depth perception and visual search in simulated sunlight environment were higher than those in simulated twilight and on-cloud environments. In the 0.4/0.4 vision group, kinetic vision in simulated twilight and on-cloud environments were significantly lower than that in simulated sunlight environment(P<0.01). There were main effect differences in binocular static distant vision, kinetic visual acuity, depth perception error and visual search time among subjects with different vision(all P<0.05). Compared with 1.0/1.0 vision group, those with 0.6/0.6 and 0.4/0.4 vision had significant decrease in kinetic visual acuity, depth perception ability and visual search ability(all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Different luminous environments have a great impact on the visual performance of people with low vision, which poses a potential threat to flight safety.

Advances in radionuclide tracers have allowed for more accurate imaging that reflects the actions of numerous neurotransmitters, energy metabolism utilization, inflammation, and pathological protein accumulation. All of these achievements in molecular brain imaging have broadened our understanding of brain function in Parkinson's disease (PD). The implementation of molecular imaging has supported more accurate PD diagnosis as well as assessment of therapeutic outcome and disease progression. Moreover, molecular imaging is well suited for the detection of preclinical or prodromal PD cases. Despite these advances, future frontiers of research in this area will focus on using multi-modalities combining positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging along with causal modeling with complex algorithms.
Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Molecular Imaging ; methods ; trends ; Neuroimaging ; methods ; trends ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for testing tetrahydrofuran( THF) in workplace air by solvent desorption gas chromatography. METHODS: The air samples were collected by activated carbon tube,desorbed with carbon disulfide solution,then separated by capillary column and detected by flame ionization detector. RESULTS: The linearity range of THF concentration was 1. 78-8 892. 00 mg / L,and the correlation coefficient was 0. 999 9. The minimum detection limit of THF was 0. 09 mg / m3. The minimum quantitative concentration was 0. 27 mg / m3( 3. 00 L air collection). The average desorption efficiency of THF was 94. 29%-96. 46% when placed overnight at the room temperature. The within-run and the between-run relative standard deviation were 0. 30%-0. 91% and 0. 66%-1. 23% respectively. THF sample could be stored at room temperature for at least 8 days. CONCLUSION: The method could be widely applied in sampling and detection of THF in workplace air.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of miR-124 inhibiting the proliferative activity of prostate cancer PC3 cells.

METHODSLuciferase reporter gene assay was used to examine the specific binding ability of miR-124 to PKM2 mRNA 3'-UTR. After miR-124 was transfected mimic to PC3 cells, the expression levels of PKM2 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The effects of miR-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA on the proliferative activity of the PC3 cells were determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe expressions of PKM2 mRNA and protein were upregulated (5.12 +/- 0.35) times and (4.05 +/- 0.20) times respectively in the PC3 cells as compared with those in the RWPE-1 cells (P < 0.05). Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that miR-124 targeted PKM2 3'-UTR. At 24 hours after transfection with miR-124 mimic, the PKM2 protein expression in the PC3 cells was downregulated (0.16 +/- 0.04) times (P < 0.05), while the PKM2 mRNA level was not changed significantly (P > 0.05), as compared with the control group. MTT assay showed that both miRNA-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA could inhibit the proliferation of the PC3 cells, but the former exhibited a greater inhibitory effect than the latter. After transfection with miR-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA, the cell growth rates were (66.20 +/- 5.10)% vs (82.10 +/- 6.35)% at 24 hours (P < 0.05) and (49.34 +/- 2.37)% vs (70.10 +/- 5.80)% at 48 hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONmiR-124 can suppress the proliferation of PC3 cells by regulating the PKM2 gene.

Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Hormones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the gene expressions in the stromal cells of the human prostate peripheral zone (PZ) in men of different ages.

METHODSWe primarily cultured stromal cells from the normal prostate PZ of men aged 23 -32 (young group) and 56 -75 years (old group), profiled the gene signature of the PZ cells by cDNA microarray, and defined the differential gene expression patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis. Among the differential genes, we selected and confirmed up-regulated genes by quantitative real time PCR (Q-PCR), and identified their protein coding by Western blotting.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in the gene expressions of the PZ cells between the old and young groups. Based on the fold change ratio of > or = 2 or < or = 0.5, 509 up-regulated and 188 down-regulated genes were selected in the PZ cells. A subset of significantly differential genes influencing the growth of adjacent epithelial cells were identified, including HGF, IGF2, IGFBP5 and MMP1 in the old males.

CONCLUSIONStromal cells in the prostate PZ were more active in older males in promoting the malignant progression of adjacent prostate epithelial cells, which might be due to the increased expression of extracellular paracrining mediators.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To study the influence of the audio-visual block (AB) on the brain glucose metabolism of idiopathic tinnitus patients.Methods The brain positron emission tomography (PET) test was performed on one chronic idiopathic tinnitus patient under audio-visual block and non-block (NB) conditions respectively.The visual analysis and statistical parameter mapping(SPM) analysis were both used to detect the brain glucose metabolism difference under AB and NB conditions.Results Under NB conditions,significant hyperactivity was detected at auditory and visual cortex on both sides of the brain.However,this phenomenon was not shown under AB conditions.Instead,a hyperactivity of brain was presented in the left Wernicke’s area.Conclusions The generation of chronic idiopathic tinnitus probably has no relationship with the auditory cortex abnormity.Wernicke’s area might be involved in the central perception of tinnitus.

Objective To establish an automatic synthesis method for 11C-carfentanil (CFN) as an novel opiate receptor radioligand and study its biodistribution in rats. Methods 11C-Triflate-CH3 was bubbled into 0.5 mg precursor desmethyl-CFN (which was dissolved in 0.15 ml DMSO) to generate 11C-CFN in a V-tube at room temperature. Sep-Pak C2 column was used for purification of 11C-CFN, which was eluted by 3ml binary system aqueous solution, 10 ml water thrice, and then I ml ethanol. The biodistribution (% ID/g) of 11C-CFN in SD rats was studied. SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Non-normal distribution data were analyzed using nonparametric test. Results The synthesis time for 11C-CFN was 20 min (end of bombardment, EOB). The synthesis yield was (35.5 ± 2.2) % on average (n = 12, uncorrected)with the radiochemical purity over 98%. Biodistribution study in rats showed that the tracer had a high brain uptake, rapid blood clearance, and a metabolic pathway via liver and kidney. The highest tracer uptake was in thalamus (4.26 ± 0.89) % ID/g and striatum (4.05 ± 1.08) % ID/g at 5 min after injection, followed by cerebral cortex (2.63±0.89) %ID/g, pons (2.26 ±0.57) % ID/g, hippocampus (2. 17 ±0.55) %ID/g and cerebellum (2. 15 ±0.39) %ID/g. Conclusions The automatic synthesis of 11C-CFN is fast and reliable, and this radioligand can be used for opiate receptor imaging.

Objective To investigate the glucose metabolic pattern of brain functional loop in patients with refractory obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using 18 F-FDG PET.Methods Eight patients with refractory OCD and 8 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers underwent 18F-FDG PET brain imaging.SPM software was used for image post-processing and quantitative analysis.Correlation analysis between 18F-FDG uptake and Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale(Y-BOCS) score was performed.Results Compared with the controls,the glucose metabolism of bilateral frontal cortices ( including the rectal gyrus,orbital gyrus and cingulate gyrus),left thalamus,right temporal lobe and bilateral cerebellum in refractory OCD patients increased significantly ( Zmax =3.45 - 5.80,all P ＜ 0.001 ).Bilateral motor cortices and bilateral parietal lobes (BA7),however,showed decreased glucose metabolism (Zmax =3.44 - 4.46,all P ＜0.001 ).Y-BOCS score was positively correlated with the glucose metabolism of the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (Zmax =3.77,3.48 and 2.97,all P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions There is a characteristic metabolic pattern of increased glucose utilization in the fronto-striato-thalamic loop and decreased glucose utilization in bilateral motor cortices and parietal lobes in patients with OCD.The glucose metabolism in the anterior cingulate cortex might serve as a quantitative parameter for the assessment of the severity of OCD.

BACKGROUNDThis retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 2-(F18)-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET)/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the preoperative diagnosis of metastatic mediastinal and hilar lymph node in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSA total of 39 patients received preoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT and the postoperative biopsy. We compared preoperative PET/CT scan results with corresponding intraoperative histopathalogic findings in 39 NSCLC patients. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were assessed.

RESULTSHistopathologic examination confirmed metastasis in 57 out of the 208 excised lymph nodes; 23 of the 57 nodes were mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PET/CT in the preoperative diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients were 65%, 96.8%, 92%, 78.5% and 90%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPET/CT scan showed good accuracy in the preoperative diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis in the patients with NSCLC. We recommend that PET/CT scanning be used as a first-line evaluation tool for tumor diagnosis, therapy evaluation and follow-up.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Corydalis composite (CDC) combined with methotrexate (MTX) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSSeventy-six RA patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, 37 in the treated group received the combined therapy, and the 39 received MTX treatment alone, all were treated for 12 weeks. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated adopting the standard of American College of Rheumatology (ACR), taking ACR20 as the chief criterion; ACR50, ACR70 as well as the clinical indexes and items in Health Account Questionnaire (HAQ) as the auxiliary criteria, including joint swelling index, joint tenderness index, holding power, morning stiffness time, resting pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein. And the adverse reaction was recorded at the same time.

RESULTSAfter being treated for 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the ACR20 response rate reached 35.14%, 59.46% and 70.27% respectively in patients of the treated group, while that in the control group was 17.95%, 35.90% and 46.15% respectively, significant difference between groups was shown in the outcome of week 8 and 12 (P < 0.05). ACR50 and ACR70 improving rate at all the time points of observation were increased in the treated group, with the ACR50 improving rate at week 12 higher than that in the control group (43.24% vs. 20.51%, P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, the improvements in all the auxiliary criteria were more significant in the treated group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reaction was less in the treated group than in the control group (32.43% vs. 56.41%, P < 0.05), particularly in term of the damage on liver (0 vs. 10.26%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCDC combined with MTX is more effective than MTX alone in treating active RA with less adverse reaction.

Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Biological Products ; therapeutic use ; Corydalis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome